Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Eightcap, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG vs Eightcap: IG was founded in 1974 and is publicly traded and a bank, while Eightcap, founded in 2009, is privately held and not a bank. Both serve global traders, but their corporate setups differ, which can matter for transparency and oversight.
On regulation, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, whereas Eightcap holds 3 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 99/99 (highly trusted; 90–99), and Eightcap at 87/99 (trusted; 80–89). For context, 70–79 is average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 should not be trusted. Based on these ratings and licenses, IG has the stronger regulatory profile.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
IG and Eightcap both offer competitive commissions and fees, but they serve slightly different needs. IG earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while Eightcap scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20 out of 63. Both brokers provide spread-only and commission-based pricing. Eightcap’s Raw account posts a very low headline spread, but its commission lifts the all-in cost to about 0.76 pips, which is just under the 0.8-pip industry average. IG is strongest for high-volume traders thanks to direct market access and volume discounts.
For IG’s CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during main trading hours in July 2023, 0.98 pips across the full day, and 1.03 pips in thinner sessions; at IG US, EUR/USD averaged 1.18 pips. Professionals who qualify can get 10%–20% spread rebates, which can bring an example all-in cost down to roughly 0.60 pips. IG’s DMA “Forex Direct” account uses tiered commissions (from about $60 per million, falling to $10 per million per side for very large volumes). With an average raw spread of 0.62 pips in July 2023, the estimated all-in cost is around 0.82 pips after commission.
Eightcap offers two pricing plans: the spread-only Standard account and the commission-based Raw account. The Raw account lists an average spread of 0.06 pips; once you add the $3.50 per-side commission, the estimated all-in cost comes to roughly 0.76 pips. That keeps Eightcap competitive on headline pricing, though overall it’s still a bit pricier than the very cheapest forex brokers—reflected in its 4-star rating and #20 ranking compared with IG’s 5 stars and #7 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Eightcap both support forex trading via CFDs/spot, but their range of investments differs a lot. IG lists 19,537 tradeable instruments and 97 forex pairs, while Eightcap offers 803 instruments and 55 pairs. IG also lets you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone), something Eightcap does not provide.
For digital assets, IG offers both real cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs; Eightcap offers crypto CFDs only. Eightcap supports copy trading, whereas IG does not. Reflecting this breadth, IG earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers; Eightcap earns 3.5 stars and ranks #29. If you want the widest selection including actual shares and crypto, IG is the better fit; if you want copy trading with a CFD-focused lineup, consider Eightcap.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG vs Eightcap: both brokers check the core boxes for platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, Windows desktop software, and a web-based platform. You can trade directly from charts at both brokers, and each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Key differences: IG provides its own in-house trading platform, while Eightcap relies on third‑party platforms. On the flip side, Eightcap offers copy trading, whereas IG does not.
For overall platform quality, IG stands out: it earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com. Eightcap holds its own with 4 stars and a #31 ranking. If you want an in-house platform and top-tier toolset, IG is the stronger pick; if copy trading is important to you, Eightcap may be the better fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Eightcap both check the big boxes for mobile traders: each has iPhone and Android apps, supports price alerts for stocks and forex, and syncs watchlists between the app and your online account so changes show up everywhere. That makes it easy to track markets, manage positions, and get notified on the go without juggling different platforms.
For charting, IG offers 33 technical studies versus 30 with Eightcap, and both apps let you draw trendlines and auto-save your drawings. In independent testing, IG’s mobile trading app earned 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap scored 4 stars and ranked #31. If you want a top-rated mobile experience with more built-in indicators, IG stands out; if you just need essential tools across devices, Eightcap covers the core features well.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Eightcap both publish daily market commentary and provide an economic calendar, along with sentiment tools that show the balance of long and short positions. The key difference is news coverage: only IG delivers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, helping you act on headlines with greater confidence.
Tool-wise, IG includes Autochartist and TipRanks alongside Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), while Eightcap offers Acuity Trading but lacks Autochartist and TipRanks; neither broker provides Trading Central. These gaps show up in the scores: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Eightcap scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33. If deep market research and outside analyst insights are important, IG is the stronger choice; if you only need essentials like commentary, a calendar, and sentiment, Eightcap covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IG vs Eightcap for beginner-friendly education, both brokers cover forex and CFD trading with ongoing client webinars (at least one per month) and a library of 10+ beginner videos that explain core concepts in plain terms. Where they differ is depth: IG also offers 10+ advanced videos for traders who want to level up, while Eightcap does not meet that advanced-video threshold, making its catalog thinner for experienced topics.
These differences show up in independent ratings: IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap scores 3.5 stars and ranks #31. If you want a fuller learning path from beginner through advanced, IG is the stronger pick. If you mainly need the basics and regular webinars, Eightcap will cover the essentials.
| Feature |
IG
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Eightcap. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #30.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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Eightcap
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
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IG vs Eightcap: IG supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies as well as trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Eightcap offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing delivered crypto.
IG vs Eightcap: both brokers support bank wire transfers and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, IG also offers ACH/SEPA but not Skrill, while Eightcap supports Skrill but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ÂŁ1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | IG | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Eightcap Review |
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